Short Videos with German Expressionist Elements

Tired of reading? Try testing your understanding of the film movement by spotting the German Expressionist elements in these videos! 

Stop Motion Paper Animation

The creator is inspired by Dracula and Frankenstein films and the director Tim Burton.

Stop Motion Paper Animation - Bela and Boris, Dracula and Frankenstein

• Shadows as story-teller
• Gothic setting: Cemetery, castle, jester
• Spirals signifying never-ending dream in a confined box indicating a sense of entrapment
• Distortion of shapes: Disproportionate windows, irregular staircase
• Jerky movements of characters: Dracula rising from coffin, Frankenstein
• Horror theme
• Characters blend with setting: Dracula and the trees
• Lines and geometric shapes: Checkered floor, archways

German Expressionist MTV2 Commercial

This commercial is inspired by Metropolis and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

MTV2 Commercial

• Constructed setting in studio
• Distortion in architecture, reminiscent of Houstenwall town in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
•  Lines and geometric shapes: Archways, silhouette of fingers, converging lines as floor pattern
• Symmetrical setting
• Gothic make-up and costume: Smoky eyes, dark lipstick, black fingernails, formal wear
• Jerky and exaggerated actor’s movements
• Low-key lighting

11811 (Contemporary German Expressionist film)

In this film, the creator attempts to connect the old and new components in German Expressionism to produce a contemporary silent film.

11811

• Constructed setting in studio
• Distorted reality: Disproportionate window, odd clocks, madman’s view of outside world 
• Low-key lighting
• Gothic make-up and costume
• Jerky and exaggerated actor’s movements
•  Lines and geometric shapes: Road and cars, lines running across the screen
•  Juxtaposition of images
• Horror theme

Good luck! Hope you're ready for the exam! =)